Taking the first Step

         Well, it's final (for the most part) I have my 2010-2011 Oakbrook Senior Project! At first, I wanted to do something with rape and self injury, to aware people that it really goes on. But looking further into the project, my passion changed and I fell in love with the girls and young women from the Girls Home. As soon as I clicked on the website, I read each of the girls stories. I wanted to immediately cry for those young girls who had been abused, neglected, abandoned and forgotten about. One story was even about a mother selling her own daughter into prostitution at a Young age. After reading these, my heart suddenly changed and I knew what I needed to do! I felt pain for these girls, and I hurt for these girls. And then Senior Project came into place.
         For my senior project, I will be working with the girls at the Ellen Hines Smith Girls Home. I will meet with them every month, probably twice a month. In September, I will have a 'get to know each other' time, and have dinner with the girls. We will make and decorate our own pillows. In October, I will have a pumpkin carving and decorating class, and each girl will have their own Pumpkin to decorate of carve. In November, I am going to make a Thanksgiving feast for the girls and eat a nice home cooked meal with them for the holidays, which can be an emotional time for the girls. In December, I will hold a cookie decorating class and we will decorate Christmas ornaments, In January, I will have a self- defense class, teaching the girls and myself how to better and further protect ourselves. Around Valentines Day, I am going to have a speaker come to the girls home and talk about having a healthy relationship and how to be respected better. In March I will hold a staff vs girls volley ball tournament and I will make tee shirts with the girls like an acutal volley ball tournament.
        Also throughout the year I will meet with each of the cottages and have dinner with a small group of girls, to get to know them sepertaly. I will put togeather special needs packages for each cottage house using my own money as well.
          I never actually thought that I would be excited about senior project, but now I can not wait to get started! For the first time today I met with my mentor and figured everything out and I feel like its going to be such an exciting oppertunity. ahh! I can't wait!!!!! I have to admit, I was super nervous to meet with Chamlee (mentor) today without ever meeting her before today! Tomorrow Im meeting with Jessica from the Rape and Crisis center, to possible hold a conference with the girls home. Can't wait!